Protective means for banks and counting houses



July'7, 1925. 1,544,571

S. H. GARST PROTECTIVE MEA-NS FOR BANKS AND COUNTING HOUSES Filed Sept. 50, 1920 5 Sheets-Sheet l l I l I l I l July 7, 1925. .1,544,571

S. H. GARST PROTECTIVE MEANS FOR BANKS AND COUNTING HOUSES Filed Sepl'..1 50. 1920 5 Sheets-Sheet 2- w, Wj

July 7, 1925. E l 1,544,571

s. H. GARS-r PROTECTIVE MEANS FOR BANKS AND COUNTING HOUSES l Filed Sept. 50, 1920 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 July 7,1925.

S. H. GARST PROTECTIVE MEANS FOR BANKS AND COUNTING HOUSES Filed sept. so. 1920 5 sheets-sheet 4 SHG/1R57'.

S. H. GARST PROTECTIVE MEANS FOR BANKS AND COUNTING HOUSES July 7, 1925;

Filed Sept. 50. 1920 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 ,2 5. H. 6A RST 'FjW/ wifi/vw of the same; Fig. 6

j Stiles are provided with STEPHEN H. GARST, 0F MOLINE, ILLINOIS.

PROTECTIVE MEANS FOR BANKS AND'COUNTING HOUSES.

Application led September 30, 1920. Serial No. 413,940.

l To aZZ whom it may concern.'

Be it known that I, STEPHEN H. GARST, a citizen of the United States, residing at Moline, in the county of Rock lsland and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Protective Means `for Banks and Counting Houses, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in means for protecting banks and counting houses from burglars and holdup men. The object of the invention is to .provide means whereby, in the event ot an attempt at robbing the bank or counting house vthe attack may be frustrated, the culprit captured and the employees of the bank protected from injury. To the above end the devise is simple in construction and eilicient in operation.

Referring' to the accompanying drawings Fig. 1 is a plan view of the ioor of a bank equipped with my improvements; Fig. 2 is p an elevation of the entering and exit turnstiles; Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view of the locking means for the turnstiles; Fig. 4 is an. elevation of the means for protecting the employees at the windows at which business is transacted; Fig. 5 is a side elevation is a section on the line 6-6 of Fig. 4; Fig. 7 is a section on the line 7-7 of Fig. 4; Fig. 8 is an end sectional view of the 'means for protecting the employees at the open counter; Fig. 9 is an elevation of the means for closing the ventilation spaces between the various windows at which business is transacted; Fig. 10 is a side elevation of the same; Fig. 11 is an elevation of an end of a banking room showing a modified construction which incorporates a mezzanine floor; and Fig. 12 is a section on the line 1,2-12 of Fig. 11.

Throughout the specification and drawings similar reference characters indicate correspending parts.'

Referring more particularly to the drawings and to Fig. 1, -1- represents the walls of a bankbuilding having a floor -2- and doors 3. The vided with. a vestibule -4- having turnstiles'-5. There may be any number o these turnstiles depending upon the size of the bank. In the present instance have shown two, one for the/entrance and the other for the exit. rFhe turnstiles f5- are shown in detail in Fi which radiate arms -7-. The upper end of the shaft 6 is journaled at 8 in the vestibule housing -9- and at its lower end in the floor -2-. rlhe arms -7 are disposed along the entire length of the shaft -6- above the licor. The vestibule housing Q- is provided with semi-circular portions --lO-- which lie on the traveling sides of the turnstiles. The opposite sides of the turnstiles are provided with arms l1- which extend from the housing --9- and project between the arms -7-. The portions -10- and -11 prevent persons slipping around the ends of the arms 7 an compel the rotation of the turnstiles when any one enters or leaves the bank. To compel each tuinstile to rotate in its proper direction, one end of the shaft -6, the lower end in the present instance, is provided with a wheel -12 having ratchet teeth -13- in operative relation with a awl i4- mounted on the under side of the Hoor. To lock the turnstile against rotation in case of emergency, thereby preventing anyone entering or leaving the bank, the wheel -12 is provided with notches --15- on its lower side. The notches -'15 are adapted to receive a locking lever -16- pivoted at -17-. The lever -16- for each turnstile is provided with guiding members -18- and is adapted to be moved into the recesses -15- by a spring -19. The lever -16 is normally held out of the recesses l5- by a latch .-20- normally in engagement with a projection 21- on the lever. The latch -20 is tripped to release the lever -16- by a rod or cable 4422-. W'hen the latch is released the spring -19- pulls the lever into one of the notches -'15- thereby preventing the turnstile rotating.'

The rod or cable -22- is operated by means hereinafter described. The mechanism for locking the turnstiles may be mounted on either end of the shaft -6- and. is inclosed within a suitable housing 80 provided with a. door 8lwhich gives access to the mechanism. s

ln Figs. 4 to 7 inclusive means are shown for closing the individual openings at which f business is transacted, such as the cashiersv and receivers windows.- Openings marked 23 in the drawings are located in a wall -24- within the bank. The openings w23- are provided with the usual grating -25- and are located adjacent to a. counter roe -26- which runs along the inner side of -34- in a the Wall 24. Mounted on the inner side of the Wall -24- and on each side of each opening 23- are guides 30- supported at -40- to the floor -2- and at 4lto the wall 2%. Adapted to slide on the guides -30- is a grating -25- and a shutter -28. The grating -25- normally screens the opening Q8- The grating -25- is provided with bearings 3lthe shutter 28 with bearings *27- while both are provided with bearing sleeves ,-85- which are instrumental in connecting the grating and shutter whereby they move in unison. The grating and shutter are elevated, to a position for the shutter to cover the opening --23-, by springs 29ewhich are connected to the grating at 39- by cables S2- which pass over pulleys housing -44i. The grating and shutter are held in a depressed position, against the tension of the springs --29-, by

a latch 37- which engages the edge of,

an opening -43- in the shutter. rlhe latch -37- may be tripped to release the shutter by a treadle -79- mounted on a shaft *73"- upon which the latch is also mounted. rlhe opening -43- permits firearms to be projected through the shutter when the shutter covers the opening 23- during an emergency. The shutter -28- slides through a slot -42- in the counter -26-, and. when in a normal position the upper edge of the shutter lies flush with the Surface of the counter. To present a smooth surface, at this point, the shutter is provided with a fiange -33-.

ln Figs. l and 8 there is shown an open counter 45. To protect the employees of the bank working at this counter, the said counter is hinged at -46- to a lower wall -47. The counter 453- may be thrown to a position shown by dotted lines in Fig. 8. When in this position the space behind the open counter is entirely closed by the counter -4f5, the lower wall 471- and an upper wall -4.-8 which extends from the upper edge of the counter 45- to the ceiling of the banking room. The counter e5- is elevated by the following means. Counter -45- is normally held in a horizontal position by. brackets -Lif9-- On its under side the counter is provided with a track -50- and a ratchet teeth --51. En operative relation with the track -50 is a roller -52- mounted on the end of a lever -53 pivoted at 5eto a standard 55-. The end of the lever -53- opposite the roller -52- is attached to a springp-56 also securedto the standard -55. The lever 53 is held in a depressed position by a latch -57- pivoted at 5S- to the standard. When the latch -57 is released the spring -56- throws the counter 45- to the position shown by dotted lines. The counter is locked in this position by a spring controlled pawl -59- mounted on the lever -53- and in operative relation with the ratchet teeth -51. The latch -57- may be manually actuated by means of an arm -60, by means of the knee through the agency ot' a projection -61- or by the foot through the agency of a lever G2- and a connecting rod -63-.

To provide ventilation in the space behind the wall 24tthe said Wall is provided with openings -64-. To close these openings in case of emergency the means shown in detail in Figs. 9 and 10 are provided. (35 are shutters 'mounted on shafts \66- journaled in the wall -24- at the sides of the openings 6a- The shutters *G5- normally lie horizontally and the shafts -66- are provided with cranks -67- connected by a rod G8- The rod 68- extends downwardly toward the Hoor. Its lower end is ided by a bearing -69-. Attached to t e bearing G9-fand to the rod *68* is a spring 70 which, when the shutters are in a horizontal position, is under tension. The spring -70- is. held. under tension by a latch -71- in engagement with the lower end of rod\ 69. The latch 7lextends from a foot lever -72. When the foot lever #72- is depressed the spring L70- i's released which moves the shutters -65- to a closed position.

rlhe locking of the turnstiles against rotation, the closing of the window openings -23-, the elevation of the counter 45 and the closing of the Ventilating openings 6ftis accomplished simultaneously and in the case of emergency through the agency of a shaft -7 3-. The'shaft 73- is provided with suitable bearings -74-, connecting devices -83-,- and is mounted adjacent to the door and under the counters 26- and 45- in a position easily accessible to the employees. The shaft 73 is rocked by any employee in case of emergency. en so rocked the rods or cables 22- of the turnstiles are actuated to lock the turnstiles through the agency of bellcrank levers -75- and a cable 76- connected to a crank -77 on the shaft -73-- At the same time the ating -25- and shield 2&- of the win ow openings -23- are actuated as the latch -37- is mounted on the shaft 73-.` At the same time the open counter -45- is elevated as its foot lever -62- is mounted on the shaft h73--.y Also at the same time the shutters -65- of the Ventilating openings -64-1 are closed as their toot levers -72- are mounted on the shaft -73.. In addition to foot levers -62 and -72- the shaft -73 may be provided with any number of footlevers In Figs. 11 and l2 there is shown the endl Luismi B of a banking room provided -with a niezouter compartments and provided with an zanine floor -85 to which access may be opening, a counter hinged to said partition had by stairs- 86 inclosed by a wall near the lower edge of said opening, a '---89---il The floor lis provided with a spring actuated device to elevate said coun-l 6 wall Q4-,- having openings -23 similar ter to a vertical position in line with said 70 to the wall 24rbefore described. The opening, a latch to hold said counter in a deopenin -23- at the mezzanine iloor, are pressed position, a shaft extending alon adapte to be closed by shields 2S- which said partition on the inner side thereof an vslide on rods 30. and which are actuated operatively connected with said latch, and

by springs -1-29- released by `latches means for automatically locking said counter 75 The construction and operation of the either in a partial` or fully elevated osition. shields -28-, on the mezzanine floor, is `5. In a banking room or-the like aving a identical with thatI illustrated in Figs. 4: partition dividing the same into inner and and 5 with the exception, that, no grating outer compartments, said partition having y 25 is provided. The latches -37- of an opening' therein, and said outer compart- 80 all of theshields -2 8-, may be simultanement having a passageway leading thereously actuated'by a rod- 8 andv cranks from `to the exterior of said room, a turn- -88- mounted on the shafts,-73-. By stile mounted in said passageway, a'nor- 4providing a mezzanine floor, a point of admally inoperative device for locking said vantage is given the employee of the .bank turnstile against.movement, a shutter mov- 85` in case of an emergency. ably mounted. adjacent to the opening in `Having described my invention, I cla-im: said partition, actuating means for moving 1. In a banking room o r the like having said ,shutter into line with said opening, a a partition dividing the same into inner and controlling device on the inner si e of said outer compartments land having a passagepartition, and means for operatively con- 90 way leading from the outer compartment to necting said controlling device with the the exterior of said room, aturnstile to conlocking device for said turnstile and with trol said passageway, a locking member the actuating means for said shutter. rigidly secured to and rotating with said 6. In a banking room or the like having a 3" turnstile and having a depending flange partition dividing the same into inner and 95 rovided with a Series lof notches fin its outer compartments, said partition having lbwer edge, a finger pivotally mounted on a an opening therein, and said outer com artiixed support for movement into and out of ment` having a passageway leading t ere-V said notches,la spring tending to move said .from to the exterior of said room, a turn-l 3" finger toward said lccking member, a latch stile mounted inl said passagewa a nor- 100 normally engaged in'said. er to hold the mally inoperative device for loc ing 'sa-id same out of engagement wit said locking turnstile against movement, a shutter movmember, and means operable yfrom said inably mounted adjacent to the openingin ner compartment to actuate said latch to resaid partition, actuating means for moving 4 lease said finger. said shutter into line with said opening, a 105 2.' In a banking lroom or the like having shaft extending along said partition on lthe partition dividing the same intoinner and inner side thereof, means for operatively Outer Compartment@ Said 13S-1421131011 havlllg connecting said shaft with the locking dean openin a counter hinged t0 the 10W?? vice for said turnstile and with the actuatportion o said partition adjacent t0 Said ing means for said shutter, and a plurality 110` opening, means adapted to elevate sii-1d of devices for actuating said, shaft td cause counter to avertical position inline with said turnstile to be loc ed and said shutter said openin and menus fOr allwmtiau' to be'actuated simultaneously. locking sai .counter in geither a fully ele- 7, In a banking r'oom 0r t e like having-a l 5 vated or 'partially'elevated position. partition dividing the saine into inner and ,115

3. -In 4a banking room 0r the like having a outer compartments, and having an opening partition dividing-.the same into inner and therein, and having 3;, passageway lea, '.mg: louter compartments and having an opening from said outer compartment to the eixterior therein, a' counter hinged t0 Said prtltln of said room, a turnstile to control said -pas- 'near-the'lower edge ofsaid openin atOOthed sageway, means for locking said turnstile F120 rack securedl to.. the lower si e .of said against rotation, a shutter mounted adjacent counter, a lever pivotally mounted beneath to one of said openings for movement into said counter and connected therewith to eleline therewith, spring actuated means to acvate the saine to a' vertical position in line' tua-te said shutter, a detent retain said 60.- with said opening, a, spring connected with shutter normallyout of line with said open- 12" said lever, and a pawl carried b said lever ing, a counter hinged to saidpartition near and cooperating with said toot edrack to the loweredge of another of said Io ings, lock said counter in an elevated position. a spring actuated deviceto nieve sai counter v4. In a banking room or lthe like having a .into a vertical position in hne with its openpartition ydividing the saine into inner and ing, a latch to control the operation of ysaid 130 W u -m the openin spring actuated device, a shaft extending a ong the inner side of said partition above the floor and operatively connected with said lockin means and said latches, and a plurality ofgactuating'devices 'for said shait, the manipulation of any one of which will cause the operation of said locking device, and of the spring actuated devices for sald shutter and said counter.

8. In a banking Iroom or Athe like having a partition dividing the same into inner and outercompartments and having an elevated compartment, .saidd elevated compartment having a front wall provided with an opening overlooking the outer compartment of said room, means operable from the inner compartment for controllin the communication between the inner andgouter compartments andthe exit from said outer compartment, a shutter for thel opening in the wall of said elevated compartment, and means for moving said shutter into line with said opening, said shutter having an opening therein which will lie in line with the opening in said wall when the shutter is in its closed position..

9. In a banking room or the like having a partition dividing the same into inner and outer compartments and provided with an openin and having a passageway leading from t e outer compartment to the exterior of said room, said room also having an elevated compartment communicating with said inner compartment and having a front iwall provided with an opening overlooking sai'd outer compartment, a turnstile 'to-control said passageway, 'a spring actuated locking device for said turnstile, shutters for sin said partition and in the wall of sai elevated compartment, springs acting on said shutters to move them into line-with the respective openings, detents to retain said shutters normally in their open ositions, a single-eentrolling device for reeasing thedetents of said s utters and for releasing said locking device, and a plurality of devices for actuatin said, controlling means, the shutter for t e openin in the wall of said elevated compartment aving a relatively small opening therein.

10. In a b room or the like havin a partition dividing the same into inner an outer compartments and having a passageway leadi from said outer compartment to the exterior of said room, a normally operative-turn stile to control said assa' eway, a locking member connected wit sai turn stile for rotation therewith .and having a series of 4 spaced about the same, a

' second locking member mounted on a fixed support for movement into and out of said recesses, and means operable from the inner compartment to control the movement of said second locking member.

Valso slidably mounted on sai 11. In a banking room or the like having a partition dividing the same into inner and outer ccmpartmentsand having a passageway leading from said outer compartment to the exterior of said room, a normally operative turn stile to control said assageway, a lockingmember connected with said turn stile for rotation therewithgand having a series of recesses spaced about the same, a second locking member mounted onta fixed support for movement into and out of said recesses, a spring acting on said second locking member to move the same toward the first mentioned locking member, a detent to hold said second locking member in an inoperative position, and means operable at a point remote from said turn stile to operate said detent and release said second locking member. 12. In a banking room or the like having a partition dividingthe saine into inner and outer compartments, said partition having an opening therein, guide rods mountedwithin said inner compartment on opposite sides of .said opening, a mounted.- on sa'id guide ro and arranged normally in line with said opening, a shutter d guide rods and arranged normally out of line with said opening, a spring actuated device conne/cted with said grating and said shutter to simultaneously move said grating out of line with said opening and to move said shutter into line with said openin and means to retain said grating and sai shutter normally in their first mentioned positions, and means operable from within said inner compartment to release said shutter and said grating for movement by said spring actuated device.

18. In a banking room or the like havin a partition dividing theY same into inner and outer compartments, said partition having an openin therein, guide rods mounted within sai inner compartment on opposite sides of said opening, n a ating slidably mounted on said gui e rosr and arranged normally in line with said openinv a shutter also slidably mounted on said i e rods and arranged normally out-of line withr said opening, a spring actuated device connected with said grating and said shutter to simultaneously move said grating out of line with said opening and to move said shutter'into line with ysaid opening, said shutter having a slot therein adapted to register with said opening when the shutter is in line with the o ning, a detent adapted to engage the edge o said opening to' retain said shutter in its normal (position, and foot operated means arrange within said inner compartment to actuate said detent.

In testimony whereof I aiix my si ature. 5ST; i

STEPHEN H. or 

